EP 1130-2-540
15 Nov 96
making decisions that may affect them, and will avoid taking actions that result in the need to list
proposed species.
(3) The Endangered Species Act mandates Federal agencies to utilize their authorities to
carry out programs for the conservation and survival of federally-listed endangered and threatened
species. The Act also requires the FWS/NMFS to develop and implement recovery plans as a
program for the conservation and survival of endangered and threatened species. Therefore, it is
the policy of the Corps, in balance with other Corps priority missions, to participate in the
implementation of FWS/NMFS recovery plan efforts involving civil works project lands and
waters.
(4) Inventory Requirements and Procedures. A baseline inventory (see paragraph 2-
4.b(1) above for Level 1 inventory for Master Planning purposes) of federally-listed endangered,
threatened, and proposed species occurring on Corps project lands and waters will be completed,
documented, and annually updated in the Operational Management Plan (OMP).
(a) Prepare Screening Lists. A screening list of federally-listed endangered, threatened,
and proposed species that potentially could occur on project lands and waters shall be obtained
from the appropriate FWS Ecological Services field office. Where appropriate, Federal lists of
endangered, threatened, and proposed marine and anadromous species shall be obtained from the
NMFS regional offices. Requests for these lists should be made in writing. Screening lists shall
be updated on an annual basis.
(b) Map Species Distributions. The historic distribution and habitat requirements of each
species on the screening lists will be obtained. This information should be readily available at
FWS, NMFS, or State natural resource agency offices. Information can also be extracted from
files where project construction or operational activities have recently undergone consultation
under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. The information will then be summarized into
the text and maps of Master Plans as an update in accordance with ER 1130-2-550, Chapter 3,
Preparation of Master Plans. Only broad habitat types where a species is known to occur or its
habitat requisites are readily known to be met are to be mapped. Any habitat occurring on project
lands or waters and designated by the FWS/NMFS as critical habitat will be so mapped. Once
personnel have a good working knowledge of the species of concern and their habitat
requirements, observations made in the field during the course of a year will be documented in the
annual OMP update.
(c) Determine Which Species Occur Regularly. Each species on the screening lists shall
be carefully reviewed each year for its known occurrence on project lands and waters. The main
objective of this effort is to determine which species on the screening lists occur on a regular
seasonal basis. Presence and abundance of federally-listed endangered and threatened species
will be determined by the procedure identified in the OMP. The FWS and NMFS can provide
some information on each species current locations known to the agencies. Project Office field
observations can supplement the provided information. State natural resource agencies and
Natural Heritage offices, colleges and universities, organizations such as the Nature
Conservancy, and other fish and wildlife oriented organizations should also be contacted for any
available information. Based on the information received and past field observations, a
determination shall be made, and the rationale documented, of each species type of occurrence
(e.g., resident species, uncommon resident species, wintering species, common migrant,
uncommon migrant).
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